The most recent State of the Service report, published by the Australian Public Service Commission late last year, suggests that bullying and harassment remain widespread in the APS.

The staff census asked public servants whether they had been bullied or harassed at work over the prior 12 months - one in 10 respondents answered affirmatively.

There was significant divergence between departments. At some agencies, like the Fair Work Ombudsman, the number was as low as 4 per cent. At others, including the Department of Home Affairs, 15 per cent of respondents said they had been bullied or harassed at work.

What, then, should a public servant do if they are being bullied at work?

The starting point is the APS Code of Conduct, found in the Public Service Act - the law that governs the APS.

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